Dublin Racing Festival day one tips: Galopin Des Champs hard to oppose in Irish Gold Cup
BACK FOR MORE: Having won the last two renewals of the Irish Gold Cup, Galopin Des Champs can complete a hat-trick at Leopardstown on Saturday. Picture: Healy Racing
Willie Mullins, who dominated last year’s meeting by taking all eight Grade Ones, should get the perfect start to day one of the Dublin Racing Festival thanks to Final Demand and Sainte Lucie. He can follow up with Majborough and Galopin Des Champs for a clean sweep of the top-level events.
Galopin Des Champs and Fact To File renew rivalry in the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup and there is no obvious reason why the former, who has won the last two runnings of this and the Cheltenham Gold Cup, will not confirm form with his stablemate.
Mullins’ nine-year-old looked every bit as good as ever when dictating matters and sprinting clear to win the Savills Chase at the Christmas meeting here. He is unbeaten in six races at this track, all over fences, and is unbeaten in all completed chase starts outside of Punchestown. Adept at making the pace, if necessary, there is no obvious reason to think any of these runners can improve past him just yet.
Fact To File is just a year younger than the selection but far less exposed. He was too keen when runner-up in the Savills Chase, but it is difficult to know what can be done differently to reverse the form. Could connections choose to let him stride on? Given his stamina for any further than this is not assured, that could compromise his chance, but if they sit behind Galopin Des Champs, he will be an even tougher nut to crack.
Willie Mullins thought repeating last year Dublin Racing Festival Grade One clean sweep would be mission impossible when I asked him about it a week and a half ago. Now the weekend has arrived, it looks very possible. Only 7-2 to bag all eight again 10-11 to win seven. pic.twitter.com/DXWVXt3KYS
— Darren Norris (@Denmania) February 1, 2025
Monty’s Star ran a super race to finish runner-up to Fact To File in the Brown Advisory but is likely to have to settle for a minor role once more while Inothewayurthinkin has each-way claims at a big price.
Sainte Lucie gets the nap to take the Gannon’s City Recovery & Recycling Services Juvenile Hurdle. Beaten on her only start for her previous trainer, the French import made an immediate impact for current connections when winning a maiden at Punchestown.
In front rank from an early stage, she travelled quite enthusiastically but jumped well and eased clear in the closing stages to put 11 lengths between herself and Luker’s Tipple, who didn’t do the form any harm when chasing home the year-older Pure Steel on his next start.
A classy sort in the making, she can take this at the expense of stablemate Lady Vega Allen, who can reverse Christmas form with Hello Neighbour.
Final Demand can take the opener, the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle. Winner of a point-to-point, he made a most impressive track debut winning a maiden hurdle at Limerick’s Christmas meeting.
That form has received three nice boosts, with runner-up Timmy Tuesday, who was beaten 15 lengths, running away with an Ayr handicap off 116, third-placed Will The Wise winning a Punchestown maiden, and fourth-place Onlymammycanloveme finishing a close third in the Fairyhouse bumper won by I’ll Sort That.
He looks to have the class to cope with shorter trips but should stay this far without any problem and can cement his place at the top of the Albert Bartlett betting with victory here.
1:15 Final Demand (nb)
1:50 Sainte Lucie (nap)
2:25 Meetingofthewaters
2:55 Majborough
3:30 Galopin Des Champs
4:05 Midnight It Is
4:35 Sortudo
1:15 Supersundae
1:50 Lady Vega Allen
2:25 King Alexander
2:55 Touch Me Not
3:30 Fact To File
4:05 My Mate Mozzie
4:35 Colcannon
